FARMERS MARKETS ~ THINK GLOBAL, SHOP LOCAL.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMERS AND YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

There is nothing better than having the advantage of the farm coming to you, its a fooddie's dream come true. Being able to create from the season's best not only keeps it fresh, but it also keeps it interesting. You never know what your going to be enticed with, whats going to grab your culinary attention, whats going to complete or revolutionize Wednesday night's dinner!!! In this economy it doesn't hurt to get a great bargain on fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, flowers, herbs, spices, arts, crafts, jewelery, I mean the locals come out with the best they have to offer at an unbeatable price and you also get the privilege of the first and at times the exclusive pick. You can even make it a family event and sample some of the great food that is offered either by local artisans or vendors that typically follow the markets, lets face it every night doesn't have to be a cooking night, right! For example, around the corner in my neck of the woods is the Ocean Beach (OB, San Diego) Market I absolutely love it, you can find all types of international food from East African to Greek to Mexican to Raw/Vegan, I mean those are just a few that come to mind....anyhow, I just go around grab whatever tickles my fancy and nibble from the great international banquet before me.

Here is a peak at what I look forward to weekly....

FRESH VEGETABLES

PLANTS & FLOWERS

HONEY, CURED MEATS, JAMS, OILS, NUTS, BAKED GOODS...

LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEAS, HOME DECORATIONS,

ONE OF A KING ART PIECES & JEWELERY

YUMMY YUMMY INTERNATIONAL FOOD

I saved the best for last, the amazing llamas that make it all so so happy for both young and old....I know I'm just as excited around them as all the children standing next to me...whatever, I'm the first to admit I'm still a kid at heart!!

OB Market http://www.oceanbeachsandiego.com/OceanBeachFarmersMarket.shtml

Whether you're from New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Denver, Houston, New Orleans, Kansas City, Boise, Madison, Chicago, Boston, anywhere at all; there is a farmer's market right around the corner providing you with fresh products to make your culinary curiosities and aspirations a reality.....

Just follow the links below to find a market near you; chose your sate, find your city and go explore the possibilities and taste the flavors of your local community!

Alabama

http://www.fma.alabama.gov/FMCounty.aspx

Alaska

http://farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Alaska.htm

Arizona

http://www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com/azfmmarkets.htm

Arkansas

http://www.arkansasgrown.org/Pages/browse.aspx?&FF1=Points_x0020_of_x0020_Sale&FV1=Farmers%20Market

California

http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/index.cfm

Colorado

http://www.coloradofarmers.org/find_a_market.htm

Connecticut

http://www.ctnofa.org/FarmersMarkets.htm

Delaware

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Delaware.htm

Florida

http://www.florida-agriculture.com/consumers/farmers_markets.htm

Georgia

http://www.pickyourown.org/GAfarmersmarkets.htm

Hawaii

http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/add/farmers-market-in-hawaii

Idaho

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Idaho.htm

Illinois

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Illinois.htm

Indiana

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Indiana.htm

Iowa

http://www.fruitstands.com/states/iowa.htm

Kansas

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Kansas.htm

Kentucky

http://farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Kentucky.htm

Louisiana

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Louisiana.htm

Maine

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Maine.htm

Maryland

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Maryland.htm

Massachusetts

http://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/FMFM_Main.aspx

Michigan

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Michigan.html

Minnesota

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Minnesota.htm

Mississippi

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Mississippi.htm

Missouri

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Missouri.htm

Montana

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Montana.htm

Nebraska

http://fruitstands.com/states/nebraska.htm

Nevada

http://farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Nevada.htm

New Hampshire

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/NewHampshire.htm

New Jersey

http://www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/searches/urban.htm

New Mexico

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/NewMexico.htm

New York

http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/regionmetronewyork.htm

North Carolina

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/NorthCarolina.htm

North Dakota

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/NorthDakota.htm

Ohio

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Ohio.htm

Oklahoma

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Oklahoma.htm

Oregon

http://www.oregonfarmersmarkets.org/directory/directory.html

Pennsylvania

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Pennsylvania.htm

Rhode Island

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/RhodeIsland.htm

South Carolina

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/SouthCarolina.htm

South Dakota

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/SouthDakota.htm

Tennessee

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Tennessee.htm

Texas

http://www.picktexas.com/farm_market/farmers_market2.htm

Utah

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Utah.htm

Vermont

http://www.vermontagriculture.com/buylocal/buy/farmersmarkets_map.html

Virginia

http://www.vabf.org/fmark.php

Washington

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Washington.htm

West Virginia

http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/WestVirginia.htm

Wisconsin

http://farmersmarketonline.com/fm/Wisconsin.htm

Wyoming

http://www.wyomingfarmersmarkets.org/markets.htm

MY 1st TASTE OF THE GASLAMP

A Day In San Diego's Historic Gaslamp District

A Sampling Sensation

As a new resident of beautiful San Diego, California, I had been advised to plan mightily for the Taste Of The Gaslamp......and let me just share with you straight from the beginning, I was NOT disappointed. I debated whether to blog about this awesome event (which I recommend to all that live in the San Diego - be there next year!!). But I find myself in the month or so since the event, making many dishes influenced and/or derived from my Gaslamp experience. So I decided to share my day at the Taste....

I went with some local friends whom have done this once or twice before. They had a plot a theme and a story!!

We started at The Palm, they had a surf and turf selection, which kicked off the day in the perfect direction. The stake bites where out of this world.

The Palm - San Diego

615 J Street

San Diego, CA 92101

619.702.6500

Next stop Nobu....While I was eagerly expecting to sample some of Nobu's incredible sushi selection, I was sadly disappointed with what they thought to be suffice for their Taste sampling. They offered King Crab Gazpacho, I do not know if I owe the blah sensation I got from the gazpacho to the expectancy of sushi or what, but I found the sake infused guava and passion fruit juice far better than the "main course"

They also offered Nobu Labeled items and cookbooks which was a great idea to taste that which was not sampled.

However the King Crab Gazpacho was rather lovely.

Nobu - San Diego

207 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101-6908
619.814.4124

Bondi Australian Beer & Food is next on our list....I was quite excited about sampling some of the food at Bondi, as I have been there on previous occasions for drinks. I was disappointed to say the least, cheese balls are not my personal opinion of bringing someone back to try the rest of your menu. Though the ambiance is nice and the restaurant very nouveau, I'd say I will keep to the drinks...

Bondi

333 5th Ave

San Diego, CA 92101

619.342.0212

Chinese time @ The Red Pearl - Ahi tuna on tempura eggplant, spicy kung-pao prongs yum @ The Red Pearl!!!!!! Delissssssh! It was so great I was to busy eating and completely forgot to photo document the whole thing!

The Red Pearl

440 J St
San Diego, CA 92101-6980
(619) 231-1100

Tabule served a refreshing white Chilean sea bass ceviche, very memorable!

Tabule International Cuizine

535 4th Ave

San Diego, CA 92101-6901

619.238.0048

Cafe Sevilla rocks! Paella, roasted chiken, mushroom empanada, artichoke ham salad and dessert...wow!!

The line was incredible, but well worth the wait.

I have since made shrimp, chorizo/onions/manchego, chicken and of course I made a baby portabella/white/shitake mushroom combo that was incredible.

You can get pastry sheets and try them at home, they go great with beer and a few drops of hotsauce!!

Explore the possibilities HERE

They also have a killer sangria at the Tapas Bar and awesome ambiance complete with live music, very authentic of the bars in europe....aaaaand a dance club with latin music and dancing downstairs, I love it!!!!

Cafe Sevilla of San Diego

555 4th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 233-5979

La Puerta was our next stop. Great mexican food, it was fresh and tasty and comforting all the same time AND their house salsa was incredible I could have drank that stuff!!!

They served carnitas/pork quesadillas and potato flautas (first time I ever ate them and I'm sold!) I couldn't wait to go back again......simply delicious.

They also have a great ambiance and great tequila list.....and an awesome Taco Tuesday.

La Puerta

560 4th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 696-3466

Yogotango they had an aray if exotic flavor, I was pleasently surprised with a dreamy green tea flavor!

And check out these toppings....a yogurt addicts dream come true!!!

Also, I find it worth to mention that it is very easy on the waist line and nutritious!

Yogutango

711 4th Ave

San Diego, CA 92101-6970

(619) 696-7700‎

Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge looked like a verry fun place to have some drinks and a few appies. The decore made it for a great start of your evening.

The had a very crispy and tasty Coconut shrimp w/sesame mandarin sauce, really finguer licking good.

Check it out for yourself....

Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge

801 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101-6107
(619) 233-1183

The Merk on 5th....HOT HOT HOT amazing ambiance, we where there too late to taste their samplings, but it surely made us go back again....it was so cool we thought, that we decided to celebrate my friends birthday there a few weeks later....great martinis!

The Merk

820 5th Avenue

San Diego, California 92101

619.814.Merk (6375)

Sinful Eats is fully loaded and ready to go for those unexpected "sinful" cravings.

I believe this says it all!

Sinful Eats

corner of 6th and F street

Brian's 24 - I had to mention Brian's , having grown up in the NYC area and recently having moved from Miami Beach, I found ONE place thats opened 24hrs!!! I couldn't believe my eyes....lol!

Brian's 24

828 6th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101-6307
(619) 702-8410

Dublin Square Irish Pub & Grill, I must say I didn't know that this would be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!

I've been looking for a good shepherd's pie for quite a long time now and I had to land in San Diego to find it, go figure......they also served a yummy in your tummy potato pancake with beef stew and a refreshing chiken salad

Dublin Square Irish Pub & Grill

554 Fourth Avenue

San Diego, California 92101

Phone: (619) 239-5818

That was incredible over all, we had beautiful crisp sunny southern California weather and we made it to 16 out of 32 restaurants in 2 1/2 hrs....we where trully pros. Obviously all didn't make the memorable worth mentioning mark, but there is always next year and I'm already looking forward to it....

Taste of Gaslamp - June 2010

I hope you enjoyed my tastebud adventure through the Gas Lamp and you feel encourraged to come out next year.....I'll be there!